Fancy a beer without the blur the next day? You are not alone. No and low alcohol beers are very popular for those who want the taste of beer, but without the booze.
The benefits stack up. Fewer calories, less sugar in many cases, and no heavy slump. The UK Chief Medical Officers advise no more than 14 units a week. For driving, the safest choice is no alcohol at all.
No beer can be 0% alcohol as even fruit has a bit of booze. So it’s best to avoid completely if pregnant/nursing.
You don’t have to crush cans, before recycling. But do pop the ring-pull back over the can before popping in the recycling bin. This helps to avoid wildlife getting caught inside. Set up a can recycling program to raise money for your community!
What’s 14 units in plain English? It’s:
- 1 pint a beer a day (with one day off a week)
- 1 glass of wine a day (with one day off a week)
- 2 spirits a day (with one day off a week)
That’s not all combined! So if you do drink alcohol, have no more than 6 pints of beer a week (on separate days, with one booze-free day).
All the following beers are also vegan-friendly, not filtered through bone char or fish bladder. And packed in cardboard (if you see any plastic beer can holders, rip them up and securely bin, to protect wildlife).
Lucky Saint: A German-Style Lager
Lucky Saint is sold widely in supermarkets. It’s a really tasty quality no-alcohol beer in a few flavour variations (the original one tastes like any quality beer). And it also can supply on draught for pubs, hotels and restaurants.
Made with pale malt for a gentle biscuit note, the hops add a grassy floral lift, with a touch of spice. Also in a lemon version, it’s best served chilled. Blend with Fentimans lemonade for a summer shandy, or serve over ice with a splash of ginger beer.
Low-Alcohol Table Beer (to help pangolins)
Pangolin Beer is the low-alcohol offering from Fauna Brewing, which uses profits from all its beers, to help endangered species. Other beers help chimps to cheetahs!
Pangolins may look like anteaters, but they are not related. Covered in scales, they (like hedgehogs) roll into a ball when threatened. They eat insects with their 2-foot long tongue. These beautiful creatures are now critically endangered, horribly abused for wildlife crime.
Toast Brewing: Changing Tides
Changing Tides is a 0.5% vegan lager from Toast Ale, which replaces some of the brewing yeast with leftover bread, to save on food waste. Profits go to help a food waste charity. It’s made with English hops and malted barley.
Pubs, hotels and restaurants can order marketing materials and beer mats (the brand also sells boozy beers!)
Low-Alcohol Craft Beer in Pretty Cans
Below Brew Co is an independent low-alcohol brewing company, offering a small range of vegan drinks in beautifully designed cans. The range includes pale ale, brown ale, IPA and stout. You can also buy mixed cases and taster packs.
Low-Alcohol Artisan Beer from London
Small Beer Brew Co (London) offers vegan beer with half the alcohol and fewer calories, sold in cans or bottles or in kegs for parties, pubs, hotels and restaurants. Sustainably-crafted in a B-corp brewery, this is made with the finest British barley. Low-alcohol beers are classed as drinks with APV of 1.2% (compared to conventional beers that are around 4.4%).
Their brewing kit uses around an eighth of the water typically used and the brewery is cleaned with recovered heat and water, and all packaging is recycled. Spent grain is delivered to a local farm. The range includes:
- Pale ale (tropical fruits)
- Lager (citrus nose)
- Hazy (apricot & tropical fruits)
- IPA (bitter orange & biscuit)
- Stout (roasted barley & chocolate)
The company also offers beers in mini-kegs, which can be stored cold and consumed within a month of delivery. Once opened, drink within a couple of days. Storing up to 9 pints, these are ideal for parties etc, and can be recycled along with beer cans, once empty. The site has full info on how to use kegs.
Low Alcohol Shandy from Hampshire
Shandy Shack (Hampshire) make wonderful low-alcohol shandies, created by some guys who liked to have fun, but were getting a bit too old to deal with the hangovers of beer nights the morning after! Low-alcohol beers are classed as drinks with APV of 1.2% (compared to conventional beers that are around 4.4%).
These vegan-friendly shandies are sold in a few flavours, so buy one or a variety pack. Choose from conventional shandy or other versions like an elderflower top or even rhubarb and ginger shandies (check medication).
Organic No-Alcohol Pale Ale (Suffolk)
St Peter’s Without Organic Pale Ale is an alcohol-free beer, brewed in the Suffolk countryside. This beer is pale straw in colour, with zingy citrus and biscuit flavours, brewed using organic malted barley and hops. Vegan-friendly.
Brummie Oatmeal Stout
Stout Brummie (also in a low-alcohol version) ticks all the boxes, if you like a pint of Guinness. This locally-made artisan alternative is not just vegan and gluten-free, but it’s made with renewable energy. And a portion of profits from each sale go to local charities (presently an air ambulance and Sober Brummie).
